Latest news with #WDC
NZ Herald
7 hours ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
Northland's biggest water services changes kick off in Whangārei
Whangārei could end up subsidising Kaipara and Far North water users in a move described as historic for Northland. Whangārei District Council (WDC) yesterday voted to set up a Northland-wide council-controlled organisation (CCO) as part of the Government's Local Water Done Well change requirements. The decision was a major milestone,
RNZ News
8 hours ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Northland's biggest water services changes kick off in Whangārei
Whangārei's strength in provision of drinking water via plants such as this one at Whau Valley stands out regionally, where Kaipara and Far North face challenges for similar servicing. Photo: LDR / SUPPLIED Whangārei could end up subsidising Kaipara and Far North water users in a move described as historic for Northland. Whangārei District Council voted on July 24 to set up a Northland-wide council controlled organisation (CCO) as part of the Government's Local Water Done Well change requirements. Photo: The decision was a major milestone starting the ball rolling on massive changes to how drinking water and wastewater services are structured and delivered in the region. Council-owned assets - and debt- which provide drinking water and wastewater to about 100,000 WDC, Kaipara District Council (KDC) and Far North District Council (FNDC) consumers would be shifted into the CCO starting from July 2027. WDC councillors voted unanimously for the proposed regional CCO - based on major work by the three councils in recent weeks. That's in spite of the council being in a relatively strong water services position, in contrast to Kaipara and the Far North. A memorandum of understanding created by the three councils must still get the formal okay from KDC which will vote on it at its meeting in Mangawhai on Wednesday, and FNDC at its council meeting the following day. Whangārei Mayor and Northland water services working group chair Vince Cocurullo said the move toward a regional CCO for drinking water and wastewater was historic. "This is huge," Cocurullo said. He said initial principles were proposed for the regional CCO, including ring-fencing each council's drinking and wastewater financials . There would initially be no cross-subsidisation of water charges across the three council areas. The CCO would review those two things within three years from start-up. The mahi that led up to Friday's decision involved the three district councils working closely together. The inter-council working group of local politicians has met several times over the last month. Crown-appointed advisor David Hawkins was also part of the group. Hawkins, a former Papakura Mayor, was involved in putting Auckland's Watercare together. The group looked at what was best for Northland, rather than solely a district-by-district basis. WDC councillor and working group member Ken Couper said the regional proposal was a "cool mix" and "the elegant solution". Northland councils must submit a regional water services delivery plan to the government by September 3 under its Local Water Done Well goals. The plan would include seeking Government funding for critical Northland water services projects. But yesterday's decision allows for FNDC not to play ball in the region-wide CCO. The resulting scenario would then be a two-council - WDC and KDC - CCO. WDC council meeting agenda papers said this alternate two-council plan would help address Kaipara's water delivery challenges without adversely impacting Whangārei. The papers said under Local Water Done Well, WDC could continue to deliver water services through an in-house business unit. There were greater challenges for Kaipara particularly around growth, and in the Far North around compliance, delivery and affordability. The papers said a regional CCO was the most effective way of delivering safe, affordable and sustainable waters services for Northland. It balanced regional collaboration with local accountability and provided a platform for long-term resilience and improvement. Whangārei's cash reserves provided "early funding flexibility". The spike in capital spending would initially be driven by FNDC. KDC would follow and WDC after that. Cocurullo said the regional CCO proposal provided councils with off-ramps. He said the CCO acknowledged that Whangarei's water services position was stronger than that of the KDC and FNDC. WDC Infrastructure chair Cr Simon Reid said the move was a crucial step forward for the North. "Potable water and wastewater are the two most critical areas we need to focus on," Reid said. The new regional CCO proposal would allow for more borrowing than councils are able to do. It could borrow up to a 500 percent debt ceiling, contrasting with individual councils' 280 percent. Outside of Whangārei, Northland's water services delivery challenges include ageing infrastructure and compliance issues, particularly in the Far North, the need for significant investment to support population growth and renewing existing infrastructure and the high cost of capital spending needed in smaller communities. The new proposal would see a shareholder council set up with two representatives from each council with at least one of those being an elected councillor. Stormwater provision will stay with individual councils and not be part of the regional CCO under the proposal - LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Global Dental Leaders to Convene in Shanghai for FDI World Dental Congress 2025
SHANGHAI, July 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The FDI World Dental Congress (WDC), one of the world's premier events for the oral health profession, will take place in Shanghai, China, from September 9–12, 2025, co-hosted by Chinese Stomatological Association and Reed Sinopharm Exhibitions. Organized annually in different countries, the WDC highlights the importance of oral health in securing overall health and well-being and serves as a driving force for international collaboration in dentistry. In recent years, visa-free policies have made China an increasingly popular destination for global travelers. This enhanced accessibility, coupled with Shanghai's global appeal, and FDI's established reputation as the leading global dental event, has already attracted over 10,000 congress delegates for the 2025 edition, with expectations of more than 35,000 professional attendees and visitors from 134 countries and regions. Attendees can look forward to a robust scientific program packed with insights from over 300 world-class speakers and interactive forums on key dental topics. Meanwhile, the FDI WDC 2025 Exhibition is set to be the largest in FDI history, featuring 700 selected exhibitors across 60,000 square meters. Leading global brands such as Haleon, Listerine, LION, and Colgate, along with hundreds of Chinese manufacturers and technology providers, will showcase the most advanced dental equipment and solutions. The exhibition will also spotlight achievements from hospitals and universities, innovations in AI-powered diagnostics, digital dentistry, and 3D printing, providing state-of-the-art solutions to participants. Additionally, the Congress promises exceptional networking opportunities through guided tours designed to connect researchers, clinicians, industry experts, and distributors, fostering partnerships that can advance oral health globally. A Social Program to Remember The social program accompanying WDC25 will provide attendees with a unique cultural experience. Highlights include the Opening Ceremony on September 9, and the Gala Dinner on September 10 invites guests to immerse themselves in Chinese heritage through live performances, regional cuisine, and an evening celebrating cultural elegance. Shanghai Night set for September 11, will be held along the iconic Bund, offering a memorable evening of live music, handcrafted cocktails, and stunning views of Shanghai's dynamic skyline. These events perfectly capture the city's vibrant "East-meets-West" charm and cultural essence. China's Emergence as a Dental Destination While the Congress takes center stage, China's rise as a key market for dentistry cannot be overlooked. Since 2006, China's dental sector has experienced unprecedented growth, outpacing most global markets. The sector's technological transformation has been equally impressive. Chinese dental practices have rapidly adopted cutting-edge solutions including fully digital workflows, fundamentally enhancing treatment accuracy, efficiency, and patient comfort - setting new standards for dental care delivery. Driving Global Oral Health Forward The FDI World Dental Congress continues to set the benchmark for advancing oral health on the global stage. By uniting leaders from across the dental profession, WDC25 will showcase dentistry's most pressing innovations, address key health challenges, and foster greater collaboration to improve oral care around the world.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Western Digital (WDC) Stock Falls Amid Market Uptick: What Investors Need to Know
Western Digital (WDC) ended the recent trading session at $67.06, demonstrating a -2.44% change from the preceding day's closing price. The stock's performance was behind the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.06%. Meanwhile, the Dow experienced a rise of 0.41%, and the technology-dominated Nasdaq saw a decrease of 0.39%. Prior to today's trading, shares of the maker of hard drives for businesses and personal computers had gained 13.85% outpaced the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 9.6% and the S&P 500's gain of 5.88%. The upcoming earnings release of Western Digital will be of great interest to investors. The company's earnings report is expected on July 30, 2025. On that day, Western Digital is projected to report earnings of $1.47 per share, which would represent year-over-year growth of 2.08%. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $2.45 billion, down 34.79% from the year-ago period. Looking at the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates suggest analysts are expecting earnings of $4.73 per share and revenue of $9.37 billion. These totals would mark changes of +2465% and 0%, respectively, from last year. Investors should also take note of any recent adjustments to analyst estimates for Western Digital. These latest adjustments often mirror the shifting dynamics of short-term business patterns. Hence, positive alterations in estimates signify analyst optimism regarding the business and profitability. Empirical research indicates that these revisions in estimates have a direct correlation with impending stock price performance. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model. Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has shifted 2.45% upward. Western Digital presently features a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy). In terms of valuation, Western Digital is presently being traded at a Forward P/E ratio of 11.78. This signifies a discount in comparison to the average Forward P/E of 13.9 for its industry. The Computer- Storage Devices industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 69, placing it within the top 28% of over 250 industries. The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. Be sure to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and many more, on Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Western Digital Corporation (WDC) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Reserve's grazing licence to be reduced
After a Waitaki District Council meeting recently noted passionate community views on both sides, it decided to agree with the Waihemo Community Board's suggestion on how to deal with the Waihemo Recreation Reserve. After some debate the council resolved that the progressive rehabilitation of the Puketapu/Waihemo Recreation Reserve, as proposed by the Waihemo Community Board, proceeds, and that the current grazing licence to occupy be reduced by about 20ha as agreed with the licensee to assist with the progressive rehabilitation of the reserve. The council will now delegate to the chief executive the authority to negotiate and undertake necessary actions for the renegotiation of the licence to occupy, and renewal terms "that allow sufficient notice for the lessee, but align with the eventual re-establishment of the entire reserve". The entire Waihemo Recreation Reserve has been grazed for more than 100 years, with a licence arrangement in place that is held month by month. The reserve contains unique vegetation and is proposed to be zoned a Significant Natural Area in the draft district plan. Waitaki District Council has a project in partnership with the Puketapu Community Trust to create a formal track up Puketapu Maunga via the reserve. The trust also plans to carry out pest control and restoration work on the reserve. Grazing of deer is considered inconsistent with the requirements of the Reserves Act and should eventually be retired, a district council document says. "However, a rapid retirement of the land from grazing could result in an increase in invasive pest species." This month-by-month arrangement allowed for community consultation to occur around further grazing of the recreation reserve, a WDC statement said. "The Reserves Act 1977 requires that council consults with the community around its intent in issuing a licence or lease. WDC advertised its intent in issuing a grazing licence for part of the Waihemo Recreation Reserve in February, receiving 112 submissions with 55 submissions supporting the issuing of a grazing licence and 55 against. "The council's hearing committee assessed the submission and recommended a reduced licence area would work in with the proposed development of the walking track up to Puketapu. "The access to the summit is a key project for the Waihemo community, so this approach will allow for that work to continue along with pest control and planting."
